Share This Story!

Daniel Snyder announces foundation to help Native American tribes

Dan Snyder isn't backing down from continuing to use his team's embattled nickname. Now the Washington Redskins' owner is trying to change perception by making a public overture towards American Indians.

Dan Snyder isn't backing down from continuing to use his team's embattled nickname. Now the Washington Redskins' owner is trying to change perception by making a public overture towards American Indians.

In a letter posted Monday on the team's website, Snyder announced the creation of the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation, which will aim "to tackle the troubling realities facing so many tribes across our country."

The letter quoted three tribal leaders, including Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians chairwoman Mary L. Resvaloso, whom Snyder quoted as saying, "There are Native Americans everywhere that 100% support the (Redskins) name. I believe God has turned this around for something good."

Snyder wrote that he and his staff have traveled to 26 tribal reservations across 20 states in the past four months. The letter cited statistics on the poverty rate on reservations as well as rates of diabetes, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and suicide among American Indians.

"I believe the Washington Redskins community should commit to making a real, lasting, positive impact on Native American quality of life — one tribe and one person at a time," Snyder wrote. "I know we won't be able to fix every problem. But we need to make an impact. And so I will take action."

That won't include changing the Redskins name, which has been the target of intensified criticism by activist groups in recent months.

Snyder opened the letter by saying he "believe(s) even more firmly" than he did several months ago "that our team name captures the best of who we are and who we can be, by staying true to our history and honoring the deep and enduring values our name represents."

He also wrote he has been "encouraged by the thousands of fans across the country who support keeping the Redskins tradition alive."

The new foundation has already begun work, Snyder wrote, and is being led by Gary Edwards, a Cherokee and retired deputy assistant director of the U.S. Secret Service.